Metallic dual thickness partition



y 1, 1963 c. E. CARLO 3,090,430

METALLIC DUAL THICKNESS PARTITION Filed May 8, 1962 2 Sheets'Sheet 1 47FIG I CLARENCE E. CARLO WQWZW ATTORNEY May 21, 1963 c. E. CARLO METALLICDUAL THICKNESS PARTITION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1962 INVENTORCLARENCE E. CARLO ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1963 3,090,430 METALLIC DUALTHICKNESS PARTITION Clarence E. Carlo, Dubuque, Iowa, assignor toDuhuque Products, 11112., Dyersville, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa FiledMay 8, 1962, Ser. No. 193,342 6 Claims. (til. 160-196) This inventionrelates to the subdivision of areas of structures of various kinds intosmaller segments for use by smaller groups, and to types ofconstructions employed in order to provide for such subdivisions.

The invention relates particularly to dual thickness partitions having acontinuous light sound and heat barriers between spaced wall structures,and with such wall structures coilable, composed of independentpivotally connected and suspended slat segments, and the axis ofrotation of one wall being substantially along the same center line asthe axis of rotation of the other wall.

This invention is an improvement over that shown in my copendingapplication on Multiple Wall Sight and Sound Insulating Partition,95,951, filed March 15, 1961.

Heretofore partitions of various kinds have been provided, some of whichcould be coiled, with more or less poor light sound and heat insulatingqualities, and although sometimes composed of independent units theseunits have been connected at the same general locations resulting in abreak in the barrier whereby such prior art devices have been inadequateand failed to fulfill the purposes desired as well as being subject toother criticisms.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the inadequancies of priordevices and to provide a multiple wall partition of individualcomponents capable of being interchangably pivotally interconnected toprovide a partition with spaced generally parallel wall portions,providing insulation or a barrier against light sound and heat passageas Well as a partition of the character indicated which can besuspended, and mounted upon a single axis about which it can be coiledand housed within a single container or a sufficient portion withdrawnfrom the container to provide the desired partition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mul tiple wallpartition, each wall of which is of individual elements connected toprovide a continuous wall, and offering resistance to the flow of lightsound and heat and with the space between the multiple walls providingan additional barrier for the passage of such sound and heat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible multiple wallpartition, of sheet material or relatively movable interchangeableslats, interlockingly connected and which can be unrolled to form apartition and rerolled when the partition is no longer needed thusforming a barrier against the passage of heat light and sound, and withrelatively simple means by which the partition is mounted and in whichit can be housed during the time it is not in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

FIG. 2, an enlarged section on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a top plan view of the partition and coil box;

FIG. 4, an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5, an enlarged fragmentary section through the partitionillustrating the connecting means and insulating barrier;

FIG. 6, a top plan view of the partition illustrating the arrangement ofthe hangers and brackets;

FIG. 7, a bottom plan view illustrating the arrangement of the lowerclips;

FIG. 8, an enlarged detail section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9, an enlarged detail section on the line 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10, an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 1010 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 11, an enlarged fragmentary section of a modified form of theinvention.

Briefly stated, the present invention comprises an articulated partitionconstructed of interfitting, interchangeable sheet metal slats arrangedto form a double wall partition with a light, sound and heat insulatingbarrier disposed between such walls. The partition is suspended from anoverhead track and may be housed within a coil box having a rotatablepost or may be extended to divide a large area into multiple smallerareas. The interlocking slats are adapted to be loosely connected in acoiled position to permit a slight variation in coiling diameters as thetwo sides coil but to be tightly connected to prevent air and soundpassage when the partition is extended.

With continued reference to the drawings, a building 10 is providedhaving a relatively large open area which it is desirable to divide intomultiple smaller areas at times and to remain open at other times. Inorder to divide the area into smaller areas, a partition 11 is providedwhich may be retracted into a coil box 12 having a central rotatablepost 13 to which the partition is attached in any conventional manner.

The partition comprises a pair of walls 14 and 15 of high densitymaterial separated by a high volume, low density material which providesa barrier 16 against the passage of light, air, sound or heat. Each ofthe walls 14 and 15 is constructed of a plurality of interlockingarticulated strips or slats 17 of generally U-shaped configurationhaving legs 18 and 19 connected by a substantially flat portion 20.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the free end of the leg 18 is formed intoa semi-circular book 21 of a predetermined size and the free end of theleg 19' is formed into a hook 22 having a flattened portion 23. The hook22 is of a size to be received within the hook 21 and to provide apivotal bearing surface to permit the slats to rotate relative to eachother. In order to permit the walls 14 and 15 to be coiled about thepost 13, the hooks 21 and 22 of the wall 14- are interspersed betweenthe hooks 21 and 22 of the wall 15 with the axis of rotation of eachpair of hooks being located substantially on a common centerline 24. Thelow density material of the barrier 16 will compress sufficiently topermit the walls 14- and 15 to be coiled about the post 13.

In order to support the partition, an overhead track 28 is providedsuspended from a plate 29 which in turn is adjustably connected by bolts30 to angle members 31 welded or otherwise attached to a structuralmember 32 of the building. The track 28 is confined within a housing 33which maye be covered by an acoustic insulating material 34 if desired.The housing 33 is adapted to contain a pair of sweep strips 35 having astrip of sound insulating pile material 36 engaging the upper portion ofthe partition when the partition is extended.

The partition is supported on the track 28 by providing approximatelyevery fourth slat 17 with a hanger bracket 38 and on the upper extremityof each bracket is mounted a roller 39 preferably of nylon or the liketo reduce sound when the partition is being moved. The hangers 38 of thewall 14- are staggered relative to the hangers of the wall 15 and therollers 39 of each of the hangers extend to the same side of the track28. The hangers 38 each have an offset portion 40 and a downwardlyextending tongue 41 connected by rivets 42 or other fasteners to theslats 17.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, slats which are not supported by thehangers 38 are supported by brackets 44 having a flanged portion 45extending across the width of the partition and a tongue 46 extendingalong the inside of the associated slat and attached thereto by rivetsor other fasteners 47. The flanged portion 45 is of a length to extendthe full width of the slat and to support the hinged joint of both ofthe adjacent slats. The slat that is supported by the hanger also has abracket 44 on the lower end which supports the two adjacent slats, andthe intermediate slat, which is located between the slats supported bythe bracket, is provided with a bracket 44 on its upper end overlyingthe pivotal connection between the supported slats to support suchintermediate slat.

The bottom portion of the partition is slidably received within a grooveformed by an inverted U-shaped member 50 having a pair of continuoussweep strips 51 with a pile lining 52 adapted to bear against thepartition to prevent passage of light, sound or heat.

The free end of the wall 14 terminates in an elongated slat 55 having ahook 56 for complementary engagement with the hook 22 of the slat 17 andthe free end of the wall 15 is provided with an end member 57 having ahook 8 for complementary engagement with the hook 21 of the contiguousslat 17. The ends of the members 55 and 57 are substantially paralleland are connected by a U-shaped end member 59. In order to prevent thepassage of light, sound and heat around the end of the partition, suchfree end is received within a U-shaped channel 60 recessed within a wall61 and having a pile lining 62 which engages the end of the partition.

As illustrated in FIG. 11 the high density material of one of the wallsmay be pierced by a plurality of openings 65 to permit sound to passthrough such wall and be absorbed by the low density material of thebarrier 16.

In the operation of the device, the partition may be coiled within thecoil box 12 and may be extended from the coil box and supported on thetrack 28. The partition may be removed from the box by merely pullingthe same and may be returned therew-ithin by an operating crank 66 or anelectric motor and gear means may be provided for automaticallyextending and retracting the partition.

Although the partition has been illustrated and described as beingvertically disposed and suspended from an overhead track, it will beapparent that the coil box could be located overhead and substantiallyhorizontal. By providing vertical tracks and rollers on each end of thepartition which engage such track, a vertically closing partition can beformed which will act as a barrier against the passage of light, soundand heat.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but onlyas indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coilable partition including a pair of spaced walls, each wallcomprising a series of interchangeable members having interlocking hingeforming side terminal portions pivotally engaging the hinge formingportions of adjacent members of the same wall, the hinge formingportions of each wall being offset toward the opposite wall andlongitudinally spaced from the hinge forming portions thereof, and theaxis of rotation of said hinge portions located along a common centerline whereby each of said spaced walls and the air space therebetweenprovide a barrier to the passage of light, sight and sound.

2. A multiple thickness coilable partition of spaced generally parallelwalls, each wall comprising rnembers having hinge forming connectionsinterlocking with hinge forming connections of the adjacent members ofthe same wall and disposed along a longitudinal center line, theconnections of each wall extending toward the op posite wall, and saidhinge forming connections of one Wall being located in spaced relationto the hinge forming connections of the other wall and disposed alongthe same longitudinal center line.

3. The structure of claim 2 and continuous yieldable insulation memberbetween said spaced walls.

4. A coilable partition for use in a building having a ceiling and afloor and comprising a pair of spaced generally parallel walls, eachwall comprising a series of independent generally U-shaped members witha hinge forming hook portion on the free end of each leg of saidmembers, each of said hook portions providing an interfitting hingeengaging the hook portion of the coniguous U-shaped members of the samewall, the hook portions of each of said walls being disposed toward theopposite wall, the axis of rotation of the hinge portions of one wallbeing located substantially along a longitudinal center line, the axisof rotation of the hinge portions of the other Wall being locatedsubstantially along the same center line in spaced relation to thehinged portions of said one wall, and a continuous flexible insulatingmembrane disposed between said spaced walls whereby a multiple wallpartition is formed providing a barrier against the passage of light,sound and heat.

5. The structure of claim 4 including track means mounted in the ceilingof the building, hangar bracket means on the upper extremity of certainof said slat like members, roller means on each of the hangar bracketmeans and engageable with said track means for supporting saidpartition, a support bracket carried by each of the unsupportedslat-like members for supporting the members which are not directlysupported by the track.

6. A coilable partition comprising a pair of spaced generally parallelwalls, each wall including a plurality of slat-like generally U-shapedmembers with a hingeforming hook portion on the free end of each leg ofsaid members, each of said hook portions rotatably engaging the hookportions of continuous U-shaped members of the same wall, the hookportions of each wall projecting inwardly toward the opposite wall withthe hook portions of one wall being longitudinally spaced from the hookportions of the other wall, the axis of rotation of the hook portions ofsaid walls being disposed substantially along a common longitudinalcenter line, an end member connecting the free ends of said Walls, meansfor supporting certain of said U-shaped members from an overhead track,and bracket means for supporting the members intermediate said certainU-shaped members whereby a multi-wall partition is formed providing abarrier against the passage of light, sound and heat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,352,656 Cahill Sept. 14, 1920 2,739,677 Greulich Mar. 27, 19562,804,136 Ternes et a1 Aug. 27, 1957 2,907,383 Kloote et a1. Oct. 6,1959 2,934,139 Wardlaw Apr. 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 846,036 France May17, 1939

2. A MULTIPLE THICKNESS COILABLE PARTITION OF SPACED GENERALLY PARALLELWALLS, EACH WALL COMPRISING MEMBERS HAVING HINGE FORMING CONNECTIONSINTERLOCKING WITH HINGE FORMING CONNECTIONS OF THE ADJACENT MEMBERS OFTHE SAME WALL AND DISPOSED ALONG A LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE, THECONNECTIONS OF EACH WALL EXTENDING TOWARD THE OPPOSITE WALL, AND SAIDHINGE FORMING CONNECTIONS OF ONE WALL BEING LOCATED IN SPACED RELATIONTO THE HINGE FORMING CONNECTIONS OF THE OTHER WALL AND DISPOSED ALONGTHE SAME LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE.